New Year hope for e-bike hire launch in Peterborough

It is hoped the new green transport initiative will get under way during the week starting January 11.

But a spokeswoman for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, which is co-ordinating the venture, said it was still not certain that all the necessary arrangements would be in place by that date.

She said: “We have a provisional launch date for the week commencing January 11.”

It had originally been intended to launch an e-bikes hire scheme in Peterborough earlier this year.

But Richard Corbett, UK general manager of Sweden headquartered Voi Technology, which will operate the service, told the Peterborough Telegraph that complying with all the regulatory requirements to operate in Peterborough had taken longer than expected.

He said: “There have been a few more regulatory hoops to jump through than previously expected - hence the delay.”

Once up and running, it is expected the trial in Peterborough will involve a small number of the dockless e-bikes that can travel between five and 10 miles.

The battery powered bikes would be hired through an app with their location and approved parking controlled through GPS.

It will also involved the creation of about 50 jobs by Voi Technology and the use of a warehouse at Oundle as a maintenance and distribution hub.

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